360, PS3 Half-Life 2 top
EA's summer showcase--LIVE NOW on GameSpot (Update:
GameSpot now has a more fleshed out article about this) has a running
journal from an attendee of a press event being conducted today by Electronic
Arts (thanks Frans). The presentation by Valve had word on console Half-Life 2
plans, a new project with the working title Portal (Update: It sounds
like this is a new Half-Life 2 weapon), and word that TeamFortress 2 is still in
the works as the multiplayer mode for Half-Life 2: Episode Two, long after being
written off as vaporware (story, story,
story, story, story, and
story). Here's word:

Newell's gone on to discuss the
episodic-gaming business model. Short version: Valve likes it. It will even let
them explore new types of gameplay in a new upcoming game called Portal (which
seems to be a working title). It looks like they took the portal concept from
Prey and slapped it on a gun--you can shoot them into walls and floors to solve
all kinds of crazy puzzles, teleporting objects around and stuff. Looks like a
total mindbender.

TEAM FORTRESS 2. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? Hey, they're still making it! It's
got a totally exaggerated, crazy art style now. Looks a little like Spy vs. Spy
or No One Lives Forever, kind of a '60s spy feel. It's going to be the included
multiplayer mode in Episode 2! Class-based, etc. You know the drill. Great news
for shooter fans. We all thought this game was dead years ago.

And hey, Half-Life 2: Ep 2 wlil ship for Xbox 360 and PS3 simultaneously with
the PC. The console games will basically include all of the HL2 back content, so
you'll get everything on there that you can get on the PC. Who expected all this
Valve news?